Design of Piles [design a detailed guide]

The design of piles (cast-in-situ bored single piles) is discussed in the article. Bored piles are
more commonly used in the world as a deep foundation when axial capacity cannot be
achieved by shallow foundations.

There are different methods available for designing piles. In all the methods, skin friction and
end bearing calculations are done in the design of piles. If we can calculate the above
parameters, we can easily evaluate the capacity of the pile.

Calculation of negative skin friction and normal skin friction of soil is not considered in this
post.

However, the effect of the soil skin friction can be taken in to account when the pile capacity
is evaluated.

Especially, when there is negative skin friction, which reduces the pile capacity, it should be
considered in the calculation. Effect of the skin soil skin friction will be discussed in another
article on this website.

Generally, the allowable end bearing and skin friction is obtained from the geotechnical
investigations.

The report provides net allowable end bearing and allowable skin friction.

If the ultimate end bearing and ultimate skin friction is given in the geotechnical investigation
report, they shall be converted into allowable capacities as we compare them with the
working loads (service loads) of the structure.

Equations for Evaluating End Bearing and Skin Friction

End Bearing Capacity               = (net allowable end bearing) x (cross-sectional area of
pile base)
Skin Friction Capacity              = (allowable skin friction) x (surface area of pile in
socket length)
The surface area of the pile in socket length is calculated by multiplying the socketing length
(length of the pile in the fresh rock) by the perimeter length of the pile. Generally, piles are
socketing depth around the diameter of the pile unless it is specified in the geotechnical
report.

Geotechnical capacity of pile = End Bearing Capacity + Skin Friction Capacity

The geotechnical capacity of the pile is compared with the structural capacity of the pile to
obtain the load-carrying capacity of the pile.

The structural capacity of the pile can be evaluated from structural analysis.

The pile can be designed as a column of carrying the axial load in the soil and the rock.

When and piling is done in very soft soils like peat, it is advisable to do a structural check of
the pile considering the buckling effect in the very soft medium.

As a rule of thumb, engineers used the following equation to evaluate the structural capacity
of piles.

Structural Capacity of Pile = 0.25 fcu Ac 

Where fcu = Characteristic cube strength of concrete
          Ac = Cross-section area of the pile

Design Capacity of Pile   = Lesser of Structural Capacity and Geotechnical Capacity